Category: Accommodation

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the recognized Important Birding Areas by the Birding International and if you are looking for a place to enjoy numerous avian species, just add this Park to your bucket list and you will never regret it.

This National Park is located within western Uganda, stretches for approximately 1978 square kilometers across a number of districts that include Kasese, Bushenyi, Fortportal, Rukungiri and Kanungu, thus making it the second largest Park in the country and its confluence of forest and savannah link to the extensive forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo thus allowing tourists to sight numerous East and Central African bird species.

There are over 600 species of birds (more than half the country’s bird species) inform of forest, aquatic, woodland and various migratory species with different interesting birding spots such as the Kazinga Channel, Mweya Peninsula, Kyambura gorge, Ishasha sector, Maramagambo forest, Kasenyi Plains, the Explosion Crater Lakes and the Mweya Peninsula among others.

The Park sits at an elevation of 800 meters around Lake Edward until 1845 meters at the Peak of the western Rift Valley’s eastern Escarpment and characterized by different vegetation types and habitats including moist thickets, open grasslands, moist semi-deciduous forests, riverine bushland, permanent swamps, open woodlands and riparian forest that also offer haven to the birds species.

Hiking down into the lush Kyambura gorge offers opportunity of spotting diversity of forest bird species including the speckled Tinker bird, Green Hylia, Broad-tailed Warbler, Grey Wood pecker, purple-headed starling, Hairy breasted Barbet as well as black and African Emeralds Cuckoos that can also be spotted within the Maramagambo Forest within the Park. Please note, Kyambura gorge is also famous for primates tracking with species like Chimpanzees, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Olive baboons, Black and white colobus monkeys among others.

When to go Birding in Queen Elizabeth National park?

The perfect time for bird watching within Queen Elizabeth National Park is the wet season (March to May and October to November) because it offers high chances of seeing the migrant bird species within the Explosion Crater Lakes such as within Lake Nyamunuka.

What to Carry?

This activity requires birder’s to carry pair of binoculars, camera, backpack, drinking water, long sleeved shirt and long trousers because it involves walking through different habitats and vegetation types.

The 2016 survey conducted by W Hospitality Group on hotel chains development in Africa revealed that there are around 1,200 more hotels rooms set to be built in the country and agreements had just been signed with prominent global hotel chains, for example, Hilton Garden Inn, Radisson Blu and InterContinental to manage most of these new hotels. These hotels would start working between 2017 and 2020, said W Hospitality Group.

Last year 2017 the country witnessed the opening of two new 5-star and 4-star hotel in Kampala, making a total number of 8 5-star hotels in the capital. The recently established 4-Star Hotel Golden Tulip Canaan Kampala, which works under the management of an international hotel chain – Golden Tulip, opened in Kampala in May, adding a total of “124 elegantly appointed suites and rooms, several of which incorporate private balconies offering an amazing view of the adjoining golf course.”

The new lodging, situated in Nakasero in the city’s central business area, offers luxury services: smooth conference rooms, a rooftop eatery and parlor “where you can enjoy a clear view over Lake Victoria”, a health centre and gym.

In October 2017 still there was opening of the 5-Star Pearl of Africa Hotel in Kampala, additionally situated in the swanky Nakasero neighborhood. This facility has 23 floors, offers visitors a 360 degrees view of Kampala city, has pleasantries, for example, “a 740 square-meter dance hall, 9 conference rooms, 2 boardrooms, a business center, 3 swimming pools and a modern wellness centre with luxury spa and a fully equipped gym.”

The initial arrangement was to make it a Hilton Hotels’ Ugandan arm however it’s as of now managed by South Africa’s Sovereign Hotels.

Such impressive hotels, industry players say, have made Uganda a competitive Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions (MICE) spot in the area. Uganda now gloats up to 90 reviewed hotels and lodges – up from less than 30 only two years prior when the tourism ministry first classified the country’s hotel.

Kampala Serena Hotel is the Hotel on World standards – it is a 5 star Hotel situated in the heart of Kampala amidst 7.2 acres of landscaped grounds and water gardens. An oasis of cool and green, encircled by the seven hills of Kampala, this 152-room world-class hotel is the focal point of national, regional, business, political and social life. It is one of the perfect places to stay while in Uganda (Kampala) for a holiday with your family, or on a business trip.

Kampala Serena Hotel provides an international conference center, a garden auditorium, a roof-top terrace, a rock-sculptured pool terrace, three restaurants, two bars and the Moorish palace of the ‘Maisha Mind Body and Spirit Spa.

Location of Kampala Serena Hotel: The Hotel is found on Kintu Road, on Nakasero Hill, one of the most exclusive, upscale neighborhoods in Kampala. Kampala serena Hotel is found 40 km from Entebbe International Airport.